By Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -From swing dancing to ice cream socials, Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign will mark the 89th anniversary of Social Safety this week with occasions geared toward older People who typically again Republicans.
Occasions are deliberate in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and different key states, in addition to a digital celebration with performances by a number of artists together with Cathy Richardson, lead singer for the band Jefferson Starship; Jay Siegel of The Tokens, identified for the hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight;” and Peggy March, well-known for “I Will Follow Him.”
Voters aged 65 and older vote at larger ranges than some other group and account for practically 10 million voters within the battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, and practically 17% of the general U.S. inhabitants.
Total, senior voters backed Republican Donald Trump by 7 share factors in 2016, and by 5 factors in 2020.
Harris, who final week turned the Democratic Occasion’s official candidate, is main Trump by 4 share factors every in opinion polls of voters in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan by the New York Instances and Siena Faculty.
The identical polls confirmed Harris main Trump in a head-to-head matchup by 55% to 42% amongst voters aged 65 and older in these states.
After Biden, 81, stepped apart over issues about his age, the Harris marketing campaign urged Trump’s age may very well be a problem, too.
“Trump is now the old guy in the race, 78 years old, and he’s got a few cognitive problems himself, so the shoe is completely flipped upside down here,” former Democratic Nationwide Committee Chair Howard Dean mentioned in a quote distributed by the marketing campaign final month. Harris is 59.
Trump final week referred to as for scrapping taxes on Social Safety advantages for seniors, a place that might enhance his help amongst that demographic, however consultants say doing so may hasten the danger of insolvency for the old-age profit plan.
The Trump marketing campaign had no speedy response to Dean’s remark or issues raised concerning the impression of Trump’s tax proposal on Social Safety.
About 40% of People who obtain Social Safety advantages pay federal revenue tax, in keeping with the Social Safety Administration.
Repealing the tax may enhance the price range deficit by $1.6 trillion to $1.8 trillion via 2035, in keeping with the Committee for a Accountable Federal Finances.
The Harris marketing campaign had no speedy touch upon Trump’s name to cease taxing Social Safety for seniors. It famous that Trump had up to now referred to as for slicing Social Safety and Medicare.
Margaret Washa, 76, a retired bodily therapist from Middleton, Wisconsin, who donates usually to Democratic candidates, mentioned she felt momentum constructing for Democrats after Biden stepped apart.
“I would happily donate to a PAC called ‘Boomers for Kamala & Walz’,” she mentioned.
